NZ Dormer to head RMA reform advisory group
Environment Minister Nick Smith announced an 8-member technical advisory group today to support the Government’s programme of reform of the Resource Management Act.
The advisory group will be chaired by Auckland barrister Alan Dormer, an independent hearings commissioner and president of the Resource Management Law Association in 2005-06. Other members are:
· Guy Salmon, executive director of the Ecologic Foundation
· Penny Webster, Rodney mayor and an ACT MP from 1999-2002
· Mike Foster, director of independent planning consultancy ZoMac Planning Solutions Ltd
· Dennis Bush-King, environment & planning manager at Tasman District Council and previously manager of the resource management law reform project that led to the Resource Management Act in 1991
· Wyatt Creech, a National MP for 15 years and former deputy prime minister
· Paul Majurey, a partner at Auckland law firm Russell McVeagh since 1991, who specialises in environment law
· Mike Holm, an Auckland barrister practising in environmental & public law, recently returned from China, previously a partner at Russell McVeagh in Auckland & Wellington, helped established the Environment Defence Society, worked for the Commission for the Environment in the 1980s and chaired the 1997 reference group on the RMA set up by Simon Upton.
Dr Smith said: “Streamlining & simplifying the Resource Management Act is an important part of the new Government’s programme. This advisory group will be tasked with assisting in the drafting of the reform bill to be introduced to Parliament in February.
“The Government wants to provide for more efficient decisionmaking on infrastructure, reduce the costs & delays of consenting, speed up plan-making processes and restrict trade competition and vexatious & frivolous objections.
“The functions of the group are to provide independent perspectives, analysis of reform proposals, act as a sounding board for any recommendations being made, and report to me.”
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